35% demand met by domestic drugs

35% demand met by domestic drugs
eKantipur.com, 27-Jun-07

Nepal is quite good at producing antibiotics though a high amount of drugs is imported in the country, a report said.

According to a study on "Consumption of antibiotics and other medicines" carried out by Department of Drug Administration (DDA), 35 percent of the total consumption in the country is met through domestic industries. The antibiotic amoxicillin is the top selling drug of the domestic industries. Pharmaceutical Horizon of Nepal (PHON) prepared the report for DDA.

The study carried out during the fiscal year 2005/006 in several cities like Kathmandu, Bhairahawa, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, among others was released here Wednesday. It said that about 30 percent of total consumption of drugs is covered by antibiotics. Allopathic drugs worth Rs 4.99 billion in retail value were sold through private importers. Ayurvedic/Unani drugs worth Rs 347 million, veterinary drugs worth Rs 201 million and homeopathic drugs worth Rs 4 million were sold through private importers.

Similarly, the total value of drugs imported through Government, UN agencies, INGO's/ NGO's was Rs 889 million. Allopathic drugs worth Rs 3.18 billion in retail value were sold from domestic industries. Ayurvedic/Unani drugs worth Rs 247 million and veterinary drugs worth Rs 121 million in retail value were sold from domestic industries.

The value of drugs imported through different custom points was Rs 5.1 million.

"This study has helped estimate the national consumption of medicines, which will serve as a basis for planning an effective drug management as well as for making self-reliant drug production through the national industries," said Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa, director of DDA.